Rx Abuse – Project Lazarus

Morganton, NC – October 21, 2015: This afternoon, President Barack Obama spoke before the country about new and continuing public and private sector efforts to address prescription drug abuse and heroin use nation-wide. Burke Recovery Community Relations Director Joseph Marks responded in a formal announcement to the citizens of Burke County. “In Burke County we…

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 21, 2015 FACT SHEET: Obama Administration Announces Public and Private Sector Efforts to Address Prescription Drug Abuse and Heroin Use Prescription drug abuse and heroin use have taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families, while straining law enforcement and…

BSAN Meeting Minutes, September 2015 Fifty people were present at the Morganton Community House on Friday, September 25, 2015 for this 7:30am breakfast meeting. Burke Recovery Board member Joshua Singleton offered the invocation. Joe Marks of Burke Recovery welcomed the group and began the meeting by welcoming the new United Way of Burke County, Chasity…

On Monday, August 24, 2015, R. David Henderson, the Director and CEO of the NC Medical Board (NCMB), invited by the Medical Staff of Carolinas HealthCare Blue Ridge, addressed interested members of Burke Substance Abuse Network (BSAN), offering the NCMB’s position statement on the prescribing of controlled substances. John Whalley from AccessCare and Burke Integrated Care, an…

BSAN Meeting Minutes, July 2015 Thirty six people were present at the Morganton Community House on Friday, July 31 for this 7:30am breakfast meeting. Burke Recovery Board member Rita Gallagher offered the invocation. Joe Marks of Burke Recovery welcomed the group and began the meeting by offering coalition members the opportunity to provide the group…

On Monday, August 24, 2015, R. David Henderson, the Executive Director of the NC Medical Board (NCMB) will address interested members of Burke Substance Abuse Network (BSAN), offering the NCMB’s position statement on the prescribing of controlled substances. This meeting will be held from 4 to 5 pm at Lake James Auditorium, Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge: Morganton campus.

The Burke Rx Task Force had their first meeting on July 21 at 7:30 AM. The take aways and next steps for the task force are: Medical Community subgroup to begin exploring policy change and mandating use of prescription monitoring programs (NC Substance Abuse Network) – NC Medical Board coming to Burke County August 24 – Parent’s…

BSAN Meeting Minutes, June 2015 Fifty six people were present at the Morganton Community House for this 7:30am breakfast meeting. Burke County Sheriff, Steve Whisenant offered the invocation. Jim VanHecke welcomed the group and introduced Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Officer Jeff Gillstrap with the City of Morganton Public Safety Department. Officer Gillstrap was named the…

In a three-part series on prescription drug abuse this week, the Morganton News Herald spoke with treatment providers, health experts, law enforcement, and families with first-hand experience with drug abuse. This well-rounded series started Sunday and covered key problems followed by an important announcement: BCACD is now known as Burke Recovery, to more succinctly describe…